Smell of hair spray, the sound of giggles and squeaks,
a small, shower of fairy dust everywhere.
Cloths, make up, brushes, bags and buckets.
Tap shoes, hard shoes, Giles, ballet shoes, jazz shoes.
All of their little feet running back and forth, up and down, in and out.
An hour before show time and the excitement is thick in the air.
Everyone huddled in a group, talking, going over steps one last time,
putting on a little bit more makeup, fixing hair,
getting costumes ready, two acts in a row. Must be fast!
Taking deep breaths, trying to shake out the jitters before doing the jig.
Deep breaths.
A group walks dawn and my name is called through hysterical whispers.
At last!!!

Give one last silent prayer to nail the dance and to be the best that can be.
All the girls form the performance before has come off stage and that’s our time to go on stage and have a turn to show off our moves
Bright lights that make the sweetest smell turn sour, loud music that flows right through you and velvet curtains that becomes a red sea.
Looking at my feet. Deep breaths. Placing hands just so. Deep breaths.
The music dies down, lights go out, feet scuffling every which way and all that’s left are a few quick words, a cough, the green Hugh and quite.
The kind of quite that builds and builds and builds until finally you just have to dance. Waiting with a deep breath
I’m blinded again when the music comes on
bright lights shine and the sea of red opens.
Right when I look out at everyone in the crowd the smile comes off
I forget everything and freeze. My mind might not know but my body and heart do.
The smile comes back! Before I know it
my hips are swaying to the music and I’m flying like butter fly.
Graceful as a gazelle.
1 2 leap, 1 2 leap, spin, smile, clap, clap smile,
FREZZE!!!
Dimming lights, fading music, heart pumping around chasing a rabbit and . . . applause. From everyone. For me. For us.